Variable automatic exhaust.



PATENTED FEB. 7, 1905.

0. J. EDWARDS.

VARIABLE AUTOMATIC EXHAUST.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10 1904.

stack of a locomotive.

Patented February 7, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COLUMBUS J. EDTVARDS, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONF- HALF TO\VILLIAM R. YOUNG, OF S"OCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

VARIABLE AUTOMATIC EXHAUST.

S?ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,117, dated February7, 1905.

v 7 -Application filed November 10, 1904. Serial No. 232,064.

To It whovrt it may concern:

Beit known that 1, COLUMBUS J. EDWARDS, acitizenofthe UnitedStates,residingatStockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVariable Automatic Exhausts; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear-find exact description of the in vention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and thecharacters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in exhaust-regulators used inlocomotives and other engines; and it consists in the peculiarconstruction and adaptation of parts herein 'fully set forth, andparticularly pointed out in the claims appended.

My object is to produce such an exhaustregulator as will automaticallyregulate the amount of draft in the smoke-stack necessary for theaccomplishment of the heavy or light work which the engine may be doing.This object 1 accomplish by the arrangement within the stack of a ballcheck-valve secured to the exhaust-pipe and suitably regulated by meansof a spring and lever mechanism,which is fully described hereinandillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This specification is an exact description of one example of myinvention, while the claims dcline the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved device as it appears whenlocated within the Fig. 2 is a top view of an exhaust-pipe. Fig. 3 is aside view of a regulating-wedge.

1 designates the boiler of a locomotive, and 2 the stack thereof.

3 is the exhaust-pipe, suitably connected to the cylinders by means ofthe usual pipes L.

5 isa T-joint secured to the pipe 3 by means In the upper part of saidT-joint is screwed a vertical pipe 7, flaring a little atits upper-endfor the purpose hereinafter specified. \Vithin said pipe 7 are securedtwo cross guidebars 8, provided with circular orilices 9 in the centerthereof. Said orilices are slightly ta-- pered toward their upper endsfor the pur pose to be hereinafter shown. \Vithin the otheropening ofthe T-joint is screwed a horizontal pipe l0,which pipe extendsoutthrough the side of the stack. \Vithin said pipe 10 is secured aguide-bar 11, provided with a central orilice similar to the orilices 9.On the outer end of said pipe 10 is screwed a cap 12, provided with acentral orifice for a purpose to be shown. Said cap is secured inposition by means of a set-screw 13. H

11 is a vertical plate secured to the outside of the cap 12, said platehaving an orifice coinciding with that in the said cap. On the lower endof said plate are two lugs 15, forming component parts of the said plateand spaced apart for the purpose of allowing the insertion of a wedge16, which wedge is provided with a longitudinal slot 17, adapted toreceive the plate 14:. On the outer end of said wedge is a suitable pin18, to which may be connected a lever or the like, which lever leads tothe cab or any other suitable place. On the upper end of said plate H isfastened a spring 19, regulated by means of a setscrew 20. The top ofsaid spring is pivotally secured to a lever 21, whose fulcrum 22 ispivotally secured to the plate 14 just below the pipe 10. The tension ofthe spring 19 holds the lower end of said lever 21 firmly in contactwith the side of the wedge 16. A red 23 is pivotally secured to the saidlever 21 and extends through the orifices in the cap 12 and the plate 14and also through the orilice in the guide-bar ll.

24 is an ordinary stuffing-box secured in the orifices in the cap 12 andthe plate 1& and surrounding said rod 23. A toggle-joint 25 connectssaid rod 23 to one arm of a bellcrank 26, which is pivotally mounted ona shaft 27, which shaftis seated in the side walls of the T-joint 5. Asimilar toggle-joint 25 of set-screws6 or by any other-suitable means. iconnects the other arm of said bell-crank to a rod 28, which rod extendsup through the orifices 9 to a point a little lower than the top of thepipe 7. On the upper end of this rod 28 is secured a ball 29, which ballis adapted to fit between the flare of the said pipe 7.

30 is an exhaust-guide removably secured on the top of the pipe 7 and isadapted for use in small stacks, so as to produce a better draft. Inlarge stacks it may be dispensed with entirely.

The operation is as follows: I/Vhen the engine is running on an easypull, the wedge 16 is pulled out until the lower end of the lever 21presses against the said wedge near the tapered end thereof. This drawsthe ball 29 down until it nearly closes the pipe 7. Thus when the steamfrom the cylinders passes into the pipe 7 the resistance caused by thesaid ball will cause said steam to rush past the same with considerableforce, thus creating a sufficient draft in the stack. If when the enginewas running in the easy manner, as above stated, it should suddenly cometo a slight grade or if some other occasion should arise for a greatersteam-pressure, then the force of the steam rushing into the pipe 7automatically lifts the ball 29, and thus allows the said steam toescape without trouble. After the said steam-pressure had again lessenedthe spring 19-would force the said ball back into the desired position.If the engine is doing continuous heavy work, the wedge 16 is shoved inuntil the said lever 21 presses against the said wedge at its widestpoint, and thus the ball 29 is pressed upward, leaving a sufficient openspace for the steam to escape from the pipe 7 The tension of the spring19 is regulated by means of the set-screw 20. The guide 30 is only usedin small stacks, so as to force the steam straight up and not have itstrike the sides of the stack, and thus tend to burn it out. The forceof the steam rushing from the cylinders carries all the waste lubricantfrom the said cylinders into the T-joint 5, and thus automaticallylubricates the mechanism within said T-joint. The stuffing-box 24prevents the steam from escaping out the outer end of the pipe 10. i

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction andrelative arrangement of parts embraced in the present and preferredembodiment of my invention. I do not desire, however, to be understoodas confining myself to such specific detail, as such changes andmodifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope ofmy claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and useful, anddesire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the kind described the combination of a smoke-stack, avertical exhaustpipe extending upwardly into said stack, a horizontalpipe leading at right angles from said vertical pipe and out through theside of and means attached to the lower end of said 7 vertical rod forregulating the position of said rod and ball, as specified.

3. The combination in an engine of a-smokestack, a vertical exhaust-pipeleading upwardly into said stack, cross guide-bars arranged within saidvertical pipe, central orifices in said bars, a vertical rod extendingthrough said orifices, a ball secured-on the upper end of said rod abovesaid vertical pipe, means attached to thelower end of said -vertical rodfor regulating the position of said rod and ball, and an exhaust-guideremovably attached to said vertical pipe near the top thereof, all asset forth.

4. The combination in an engine of the smoke-staclna verticalexhaust-pipe extending upwardly into said stack, cross guide-barssecured in said vertical pipe, centralorifices in said bars, a verticalrod extending through said orifices, a ball-secured on the top of saidrod outside of said vertical pipe, a horizontal pipe leading outwardlyat right angles from said vertical pipe and out through the side of saidstack, a cross guide-bar secured within said horizontal pipe, a centralorifice in said bar, a centrally-orificed cap on the outerend of saidhorizontal pipe, a horizontal rod seated in said last-named orifices,means within the said vertical pipe for connecting said first-named rodto said last-named rod, and means connected to the outer end of saidlast-named rod for regulating the position of the mechanism within saidpipes, as specified.

5. The combination in an engine of asmokestack, a vertical exhaust-pipeextending upwardly into said stack, cross guide-bars secured in saidvertical pipe, central orifices in said guide bars, a vertical rodextending through said orifices, a ball secured on the top of saidvertical rod above said vertical pipe, a horizontal pipe leading atright angles to said said vertical pipe and out the side of said stack,a cross guide-bar secured in said horizontal pipe, a central orifice insaid guidebar, a centrally-orificed cap secured over the outer end ofsaid horizontal pipe, a horizontal rod seated in said last-namedorifices, a stuffing-box surrounding said horizontal rod where it passesthrough the orifice in said cap, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in thesaid vertical pipe, a toggle-joint connecting one arm of said bell-crankto the lower end of said vertical rod, a similar toggle-joint connectingl in said guide-bar, a centrally-orificed cap se-' the other arm of saidbell-crank to the inner end of said horizontal rod, and means secured tothe outer end of said horizontal rod for regulating the position of saidhorizontal rod, vertical rod, and said ball, as specified.

6. The combination in an engine of asmokestack, a vertical exhaust-pipeleading upwardly into said stack, cross guide-bars secured in saidvertical pipe, central orifices in said guide-bars, a vertical rodextending through said orifices, a ball secured on the top of said rodand above the said vertical pipe, a horizontal pipe leading at rightangles from the said vertical pipe, and out the side of the stack, across guide-bar secured in said horizontal pipe, a central orifice insaid guide-bar, a centrally-orifieed cap secured over the outer end ofsaid horizontal pipe, a horizontal rod seated in said last-namedorifices, a stutling-box surrounding said horizontal rod where it passesthrough the orifice in the said cap, a bell-crank pivotally mounted inthe said vertical pipe, a toggle-joint connecting one arm of saidbell-crank to the lower end of said vertical rod, a similar toggle-jointconnecting the other arm of said bell-crank to the inner end of saidhorizontal rod, a vertical plate secured to the outer side of said cap,and a spring-operated lever having its fulcrum pivotally secured to saidplate, the said lever being pivotally fastened to the outer end of saidhorizontal rod, substantially as set forth herein.

7. The combination in an engine of a smokestack, a vertical exhaust-pipeextending upwardly into said stack, cross guide-bars secured in saidvertical pipe, central orifices in said cross bars, a vertical rodextending through said orifices, a ball secured on the top of saidvertical rod outside of said verti cal pipe, a horizontal pipe leadingat right angles from said vertical pipe and through the side of saidstack, a cross guide-bar secured in said horizontal pipe, a centralorifice cured over the outer end of said horizontal pipe, a horizontalrod seated in said guidebar and cap, a bell-crank pivotally secured inthe said vertical pipe, a toggle-joint connecting one arm of saidbell-crank to the lower end of said vertical rod, a similar togglejointconnecting the other arm of said bellcrank to the inner end of saidhorizontal rod, a stu fling-box surrounding said horizontal rod where itpasses through the orifice in the said cap, a vertical plate secured tothe outside of said cap, two lugs on the lower end of said plate saidlugs being spaced apart, a slotted guide-wedge fitted over said plateand between said lugs, and a spring-regulated lever having its fulcrumpivotally secured to said plate, said lever being pivotally secured tothe said horizontal rod and having its lower end always pressing againstthe side of the wedge, as set forth herein.

8. The combination in an engine of a verti cal plate secured to theengine alongside the smoke-stack, two lugs on the lower end of saidplate said lugs being spaced apart, a steel spring secured to the saidplate at the top thereof said spring being regulated by means of aset-screw, a (lownwardly-extending lever pivotally secured to the top ofsaid spring, the fulcrum of said lever being pivotally secured to saidplate, a slotted wedge fitted over said plate between said lugs, theside of said wedge coming in contact with the lower end of said lever,and means secured to said lever and extending within the said stack forthe purpose of regulating the exhaust within said stack allsubstantially for the purpose fully set forth herein.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

COLUMBUS J, EDlVARDS.

\Vitnesses:

PERCY S. \Vnes'rna, JOSHUA B. Wans'rna.

